For a long time, physicians were regarded almost like priests. They were respected and were among the guests invited to every social gathering, enjoying an enviable level of prestige. This is no longer viewed in the same way, as that status has gradually diminished over time. In a world where technology is advancing at an extraordinary pace, medicine now faces a new challenge: competition with artificial intelligence (AI) and the way patients use it. As a physician, I am concerned that AI may become an obstacle to the physician-patient relationship rather than a useful tool.

AI can be a great aid to physicians, providing quick and accurate information about symptoms and treatments—and patients now have access to that information as well. However, it cannot replace the empathy and human understanding that a physician offers, nor THE EXPERIENCE AND ANALYSIS gained through years of study and learning from every patient encountered throughout a medical career. AI can suggest questions and answers, but it cannot understand the emotional and personal context of each patient, nor can it, at this moment, replace the experience of a physician dedicated to healing.

Medicine is a profession that requires vocation, dedication, and humanity. Physicians work long hours, often without rest, to care for their patients. AI can be a valuable tool, but it cannot replace— I insist—human experience and judgment.

The key is learning how to use AI effectively without losing the essence of medicine. We must be aware of its limitations and not place all our trust in it. AI is a tool, not a replacement for personalized medical care, yet it has become a form of competition that undermines the credibility and preparation of the true physician.

If we add to this the fact that the physician’s vocation—the fuel that keeps us moving forward—must contend with institutions that offer poor compensation and treatment, long working hours (because patients demand it), lack of family time, competition with “what parents think they know because they saw it online,” and the existence of many physicians who do not solve the problem but compete by offering what they know, making even more difficult what I already have to do during a follow-up consultation: solve a more complex and advanced problem.

Ultimately, the physician-patient relationship is what makes medicine so valuable. AI can help us improve our practice, but it cannot replace the human touch. As physicians, we must continue to advocate for our patients, using AI as a tool to improve their care, not as a rival that replaces us.

Here we remain, unless God decides otherwise.